Reed organ wind supply



Sept. 1, 1953 J. ROBOTTI 2,650,514

REED ORGAN WIND SUPPLY Filed June 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR.

Sept. 1,1953 J. ROBOTTI REED ORGAN WIND SUPPLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1950 F ED BLOt/f-S nvmvrox 155. 411 fiohifz' If TrUR/VEY Patented Sept. 1, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REED ORGAN WIND SUPPLY Joseph Robotti, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application J line 1, 1950, Serial No. 165,547

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to musical instruments, and, more particularly, relates to improvements in musical instruments of the pianoaccordion type, although many features thereof are adaptable for instruments of other similar type.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide such an instrument which is portable but need not be carried or supported by the person while playing the same.

Another object is to provide such an instrument which can be readily played while sitting or standing.

Another object is to provide such an instrument wherein manually operated bellows are eliminated.

Another object is to provide such an instrument which is electrically operated and is readily controlled without distracting the player from concentrating on the manipulation of the sound controlling devices.

Another object is to provide such an instrument which can be played with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide such an instrument which is easily played by the beginner, as well as by the accomplished artist.

Another object is to provide such an instrument on which the sound eifects of a standard piano accordion are produced.

A further object consists in the construction and arrangement of elements whereby the foregoing objects are accomplished.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claim, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a musical instrument of the type aforementioned which comprises a pedestal section and a cabinet section removably supported on the pedestal section. The pedestal section includes air pressurizing means, such as a motor and a blower, operatively associated with air operated sound producing means in the cabinet section; provision being made for selectively varying the volume of the air delivered to the sound producing means and for damping the vibrations of the motor. The instrument further is provided with means for producing tremolo, crescendo and other tonal eiiects and expressions such as those derived from a standard piano accordion.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an instrument in accordance with the invention, the lower portion therein being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 on Fig. 1 with certain elements removed and others broken away to more clearly illustrate means for controlling the volume of air delivered to the sound producing means.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a circuit wiring diagram of the air control elements shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of modified means for controlling the volume of air delivered to the sound producing means.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating a microphone installed in the instrument.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the instrument with a portion broken away to illustrate resonators installed therein.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the upper portion of the instrument partly in section.

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating the interior of the upper portion of the instrument.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion or pedestal section of the instrument illustrating modified mechanism for controlling the volume of air delivered to the sound producing means.

Fig. 11 is a circuit wiring diagram used in connection with the mechanism shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 thereof, there is shown a musical instrument of the piano accordion type which generally comprises a pedestal section [5 for housing air pressurizing means and control devices and a horizontal cabinet section I6 mounted on the pedestal section and including the sound producin means, such as reeds and the like, and a keyboard and other sound producing or tone effect controlling means usually associated with instruments of the foregoing character.

The pedestal section l5 comprises a base portion I! for supporting the pedestal section in upright position, a tubular upright column l9 providing an air chamber which is open at the top thereof and which is closed at the bottom thereof by the base portion. The column l9 has air inlet means, such as apertures 20 (Fig. 2) in the lower portion thereof, and a closure member 2| secured to the upper end thereof with a centrally depressed portion 22 provided with one or more air outlet means, such as apertures 24, and surrounded by a ferrule portion 25. A ledge 26 is provided in the chamber between the upper end and the apertures 20 for mounting an air pressurizing unit including an electric motor 21 and a rotary blower 29 operated by the motor. The motor is supported on the ledge by a relatively thick gasket or cushion 3|] adapted to absorb the vibrations of the motor and a pad or cushion 3% is disposed between the blower and the closure member 21 to dampen the vibrations of the blower, as well as to filter the air passing from the blower to the cabinet.

The cabinet section H is generally rectangular and hollow for housing the various elements to be described hereinafter and has an air inlet opening in the bottom wall thereof defined by a ferrule portion 32 which is adapted to telescope into the ferrule portion 25 to form an air tight fit between the closure members of the columns l9 and the cabinet section.

. The instrument, when assembled as shown in Fig. l, is in the form of a T-like structure and is adapted to be played while standing or sitting, thus eliminating holding and/or carrying the instrument while playing the same. Also, the air is pressurized mechanically whereby the musician is not required to operate the usual bellows and can more fully concentrate on the operation of the sound producing control means. The pedestal and cabinet sections are adapted to be detachably secured to each other by suitable latch means (not shown) whereby these sections can be readily taken apart and placed in individual carrying cases. The instrument, as shown, is so constructed that the Weight thereof, approximately 36 pounds, is not much greater than that of a standard piano accordion.

As previously indicated herein, the instrument is provided with various means for producing the accordion-like tones of a standard piano accordion, such means including devices for controlling the volume of the sound and for simulating crescendo and tremolo eifects which are characteristic of the piano accordion.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, one arrangement of controlling the sound volume comprises a rheostat 55 connected in series in the motor circuit for varying the speed of the motor and the volume of air produced by the blower, a knob 34% being provided at the exterior of the column for varying the setting of the rheostat. Preferably, this rheostat is preset for causing the blower to supply a minimum volume of air required in playing a particular composition, but may be manually operated in the course of playing the composition to increase or decrease the volume of sound.

In order to maintain such a minimum volume of air supply without throttling the motor speed to a value at which the blower becomes ineflicient to pressurize the air sufficiently to force the same to and through the sound producing means, the motor is operated at a fairly high speed but a portion of the air pressurized by the blower is bypassed. This is accomplished by providing a by-pass port 35 in the column l9 between the blower exhaust and the upper end of the chamber.

In order to increase the volume of sound above the minimum requirement, the eifecti've opening area of the port 36 is varied by a blade-like valve member 31 which is pivotally mounted at 39 in the chamber and has a portion adapted to be positioned over the port 36 (Figs. 2 and 3). The member 31 is normally biased into a position to unclose the port by a spring 40, and is adapted to be pivoted to partially or fully close the port by a pivotally mounted foot operated pedal 4| at the exterior of the column for operating an arm 42 in the chamber connected to the member 31 by a link or rod 44. A spring 45 is connected to the arm 32 to bias the foot pedal in its upper position. Thus, with the foregoing described arrangement, the musician may conveniently increase or decrease the volume of sound either gradually or suddenly to produce any desired eifects which are accomplished by proper manipulation of the bellows of a standard piano accordion.

Crescendo effects are adapted to be created by connecting a fixed resistance 46 (Fig. 4) in series in the motor circuit which normally maintains the speed of the motor at a reduced value. This resistance is adapted to be cut out to greatly increase the motor speed by a shunt connection across its terminals, that is, through a normally open switch 41. The switch t? is adapted to be operated by the arm 42 of the foot pedal mechanism, and is so positioned in relation to the arm that the arm effects closing thereof when it has caused the valve member 31 to fully close the port 36. Thus, by depressing the foot pedal to its lowermost position, crescendo effects can be produced instantly and can be maintained for any desired duration. The foregoing described mechanism simulates the effects produced by sudden movement of the bellows of a standard piano accordion.

In Fig. 4, a wiring circuit diagram is shown wherein the source of electrical energy is illustrated as a battery 58, although in practice provision is made for supplying electrical energy from house current connected at 5| (Fig. 2). One side of thesource is connected to one terminal of the motor 2? and has connected therein the variable resistance rheostat 35 and a main control switch 52. The other side of the source is connected to the other terminal of the motor and has connected therein the fixed resistance 48 and the shunt circuit controlled by the switch 41.

In Fig. 5, a modified arrangement for controlling the volume of air supplied is illustrated, which arrangement comprises a rheostat 54 under the control of the foot pedal 4|. This rheostat may be arranged to cut out resistance to increase the speed of the motor to produce sound of desired volume including crescendo efiects, either alone or in conjunction with the by-pass port valving arrangement. Preferably, the bypass arrangement is not used in this latter embodiment.

In Fig. 6, a portion of the cabinet section is shown to illustrate a microphone 55 which is mounted therein for picking up the sound produced for amplification by electronic means and :ransmission over the usual public address sys- In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the interior of the cabinet section is shown with reed blocks 56 housed therein supporting the sound producing reeds which are placed in operative connection with the air inlet of the cabinet by the keys 5'! or the like in the customary manner. The usual provision is'made for control of the tonal quality of the sound producing means including an arrangement for organ efifect.

The tremolo efiect is produced by mounting one or more resonators 60 in the cabinet section adjacent the reeds. These resonators comprise hollow rectangular boxes preferably constructed of poplar wood, and reinforce the sounds produced and set up the vibrations creating the tremolo effect. The resonators 60 also reduce the over-all cavity in the cabinet section and thereby increase the sensitivity and response of the instrument to changes in air volume.

In Figs. 10 and 11, a modified arrangement is illustrated wherein the main motor switch is under the control of the foot pedal 4|. To accomplish this, a self-closing switch 52a is positioned above the arm 42 of the foot pedal mechanism which is normally biased against an operating button 62 of the switch to hold the switch in open position. Thus, when the foot pedal is slightly depressed, a spring (not shown) associated with the switch efiects closing thereof and the motor is operated. The shunt circuit operating switch 47 as previously described, may be used in conjunction with this arrangement.

A wiring circuit diagram for accomplishing the foregoing is shown in Fig. 11, wherein one side of the battery or other source of electrical energy is connected to one side of the motor 27 through the switch 52a and the variable resistance rheostat 35 and the other side of the battery is connected to the other terminal of the motor through the fixed resistance 46 or the shunt circuit switch 47.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved instrument of the piano-accordion type which attains all the tonal effects and expressions of a standard piano-accordion. The instrument can be played while sitting or standing without physical exertion because arm movement is limited to finger tip control. The instrument is automatically controlled and electrically operated, and is extremely light in Weight for an instrument of its character. The instrument further has an important advantage over the standard pianoaccordion in that the left hand can be utilized on the treble keys as well as on the bass. The air pressurizing means and the controls are built 6 in the pedestal section of the instrument and thus do not detract from the pleasing appearance of the instrument.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be undertsood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

In a portable musical instrument of the class described, the combination of a tubular pedestal section having a chamber therein, a motor and associated blower mounted in said chamber between the ends thereof having an air intake means and exhaust means, said chamber having air inlet means in communication with said intake means, having air outlet means in communication with said exhaust means and having an air by-pass port intermediate said exhaust means and said outlet means, a member pivotally mounted in said chamber having a portion adjacent said by-pass port for varying the effective opening area of said port, a foot pedal pivotally mounted on said pedestal, linkage means con necting said member and said pedal, spring means for urging said member into a position to unclose said by-pass port, a switch adjacent said pedal for controlling said motor, and means on said pedal for operating said switch.

JOSEPH ROBOTTI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 2,822 Lomas Nov. 5, 1867 2,185,932 Skinner Jan. 2, 1940 2,558,299 Ketterman June 26, 1951 2,602,888 Audier July 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 219,336 Germany Feb. 22, 1910 768,942 France May 28, 1934 532,379 England Jan. 23, 1941 439,860 Italy Mar. 13, 1948 607,252 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1948 

